my house reef (211 g.)

[iwan]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
Iwan

Have you or any of your fellow T5 reefers ever experimented with overdriving the T5 lamps on Ice Cap ballasts?

I assume your ATI luminare has individual reflectors for each lamp. Is that fixture for the 80 watt lamps? I have measured PAR of the ATI reflector against the Sunlight Supply Tek reflector which is also parabolic. The ATI provided nearly 20% more light at the sandbed than the Tek reflector. If you went from a flat reflector to the ATI unit and increased the number of lamps your corals must really love you now.

Have you experienced and bad effects from the increase in light?

ATI uses individual reflectors.
The light extraction is thus better than at area reflectors.
The latest ATI lamps have ventilators to the cooling of electronics and the bulbs.
The performance is improved so again.
Light is the most important factor besides the water quality for colored and healthy stone corals.
The formation of Chromo proteins (pigments) by the coral increases with the available light quantity.
I haven't made any bad experiences with the reinforcements of the light intensity.

I haven't made any bad experiences with the reinforcements of the light intensity.
The corals must be accustomed to the new conditions.

[iwan]

Originally posted by Julio
WOW!!! Gorgeous tank.
do you have any pics of your plumbing?

I use a minimal technology.
I have no-one technology tank, I cannot show any pics of the plumbings therefore.
The technology is is behind the rear, IN the tank.

[iwan]

Originally posted by Lionfan
IWAN, What ADDITIVES or PRODUCTS do you recommend using for SPS health if you have a BAREBOTTOM REEF (NO DSB). Many of us have changed to barebottom so that we can increase water flow. Can you make a small list of what would be good additives for the barebottom reefer? Is Bacteria still a good idea? Thanks for any help!!!

The same as for a DSB.
The bacteria don't work only in the sand.
A DSB offers much settlement substratum.
But also LR are ideally suitable as settlement substratum.

The following additions are always suitable:

- Bacteria
- Bacterium food
- Amino acids
- Coral food
- Phytoplankton
- few trace elements
- much water change (10% by week).

[iwan]

Originally posted by Reistroffer
Honestly, your tank is breath taking, it is the most beautiful tank i have ever seen in my whole life.

i truly want to let you know your tank is inspiring.

~chris

Many thanks Chris.
I am very pleased that you like the tank so a lot.

[ccyflai]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
[B]www.aqualuxlighting.com has what they call the "computer designed" T5 reflector which is the ATI (at least that is what the owner said, if not they are a duplicate). It wasn't quite as good as the Ice Cap but close.

The "gull wing" shape of reflector design is not unqiue in www.aqualuxlighting.com. I have ordered two brands (AquaConnect and Bresslein) of reflector from German before and both have the same design. I suppose this design is common in Europe market.

[TryTheChi]

http://www.deltecaquariumsolutions.com/home.php

This is the deltec web site that also supplies T5 lights bulbs and reflectors.

There is a US distributor link to for our US cousins.

HTH

Simon

[The Grim Reefer]

I've seen that reflector design on ATI, D&D, and Coral Vue units. I don't know who actually makes the reflector, I was told ATI. It could be just like the lamps, They are just branded ATI but made by a different company. My ATI and D&D lamps that were actually labeled were made in Ecuador.

Maybe you guys overseas know something more on the lamp situation, A guy posted on RC that ATI and the company that had been making their lamps (Narva) had a parting of the ways and those lamps were going to be marketed under a new name from a different company. I was wondering if D&D was still going to be able to get the lamps.

[TryTheChi]

Sorry to but in on your thread Iwan - but the T5 issues is important given your world class achievements with them

Both ATI and D&D Deltec bulbs, reflectors and retrofit ballasts are still available on european suppliers web sites, so far so good. Infact another world class T5 tank - dannano RC TOTM in March or May now features on the ATI web site as an example of what can be achieved, whereas D&D Deltec use the tank that inspired Iwan as thier example.

Now that there is irrefutable evidence that T5s are at least equal to MH, and they all use the same tubes, I guess market forces will ensure there will always be a supply of these bulbs - whoever the distributors are - as more and more convert.

How do we nominate Iwan for TOTM? - it is stunning!

[Devildogg9745]

awsome tank

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally posted by TryTheChi


How do we nominate Iwan for TOTM? - it is stunning!

I've been doing my part, every time I see a post with someone questioning the T5's performance I link them to this thread. Thanks for posting dannano's name as well. That was another stunning T5 tank.

[panic]

Beautiful. Thanks for the inspiration. Do you have any growth sequence photos?

[ccyflai]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
I've seen that reflector design on ATI, D&D, and Coral Vue units. I don't know who actually makes the reflector, I was told ATI. It could be just like the lamps, They are just branded ATI but made by a different company. My ATI and D&D lamps that were actually labeled were made in Ecuador.

Maybe you guys overseas know something more on the lamp situation, A guy posted on RC that ATI and the company that had been making their lamps (Narva) had a parting of the ways and those lamps were going to be marketed under a new name from a different company. I was wondering if D&D was still going to be able to get the lamps.

To what I know, the T5 contract between Narva and the new company (Fauna Marin) is not exclusive. And so Narva is still supplying T5 to D&D and Giesemann. But if ATI is not going out of business, they need to source another T5 manufacturer. We may not certain how would be the quality of the new T5 compared with their old supplier Narva. BTW, Fauna Marin will be available in January in German stores.

http://shops.venditio.com/coralgarde...n+Roehren.html

[MarkO]

Iwan, beautiful tank!!!
That being said, can you post some photos of the tank that haven't been altared (color saturation)?

[sjm817]

Originally posted by TryTheChi

How do we nominate Iwan for TOTM? - it is stunning!

There is a forum for it. Click here and put up a post.

I agree. Gorgeous tank and certainly ToTM material.

[MyMonkey]

Iwan, I was curious how high off the water your bulbs are? I am looking into a different setup for my canopy at this point.

[Tazzmacd]

I believe the T5's are about 3-4 inches off the water. They don't have to be off the water like MH do.

[rock455]

I agree TOTM -- WOW!

[Mrs. Slide_Ice]

WOW!!! You have an amazing tank! I've never seen a tank with such vibrant colors, definetly should be TOTM.

Great Job!
Jenny

[Bebo77]

Can you post a large high quality picture of the entire tank so that us smalltimers can host it as our wallpaper.....

Thanks

Gabriel

[UnderwaterExotic]

TOTM! Enough said!

[asnatlas]

Originally posted by Bebo77
Can you post a large high quality picture of the entire tank so that us smalltimers can host it as our wallpaper.....

Thanks

Gabriel

LOL... I can't wait to get my 600gal setup and looking good so I can make my own wallpaper

[iwan]

I thank you all. I wish you a happy NEW YEAR and for 2006 only the best.

[Tagareef]

ian,

Happy New Year to you as well...I end this year still stunned by the beauty of your reef!

Luis

[NorthernCF]

And what a BRIGHT new year it will be

[melev]

Iwan, do you think you could post a short video of your tank in the future? I'd love to see it in action, if possible. You have so many beautiful colors on display.